NAVIGATIONAL AID

Used by ancient sailors and travelers
to find their way. Knowing where the North Star was meant you always
knew what direction you were heading.

American slaves used it as a guide to
lead them towards freedom in the north and Canada.

CHANGING POLES

The celestial pole will begin to move
away from Polaris by the end of the 21st century. Due to
precession the poles are always changing, though it takes an
incredible length of time to us humans and its always the same during
an individual's lifetime.

The south pole has a pole star as well.
Sigma Octantis is the current South Star, sometimes known as Polaris
Australis. Sigma Octantis isn't very bright(about 6th
magnitude), so southern travelers use the "Southern Cross", the
constellation Crux to find south.